Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes Visit

One place you must visit while in Croatia is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. In 1979, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register. We hired a car, which was reasonably priced, to visit the lakes this year. The drive was approximately 1.5 hours from our accommodation at Zaton Holiday Resort.

The series of lakes and waterfalls going through a spectacular gorge are absolutely breath-taking and it is probably the most magical place we have ever visited. The colour intensity was insane from the green of the trees to the crystal clear blue/turquoise of the water. The photos just don’t do it justice. You get everything here, mountains, waterfalls, forests, gorge, lakes and lush greenery.

The lake is so clean and crystal clear that you can see right to the bottom and spot the shoals of fish swimming around. One of the reasons it is so clean is that people are not allowed to swim in the lakes at Plitvice, unlike Krka National Park.

I recommend that you carefully consider your footwear before visiting the lakes. I was pleased that I had put on a comfortable pair of shoes, as there were some steep inclines and less-than-sturdy wooden plank bridges across the lake, which could be uneven with hidden drops. I noticed a group of girls wearing flip-flops, and they were struggling a bit with the terrain.

Walking on the narrow wooden boardwalks across the lakes got a bit scary for me at times, especially when we had people walking towards us, such as tour groups, as there are no barriers on either side, just the water. There are, however, solid paths around the lake

There are around 7 miles of walkways around the lakes, which require a certain amount of agility and fitness, although you don’t have to go around the whole area. They offer several different walking trails that you can choose from. You can choose the length and difficulty that best suits you. The trails are well-signposted routes, colour-coded, and all include the beautiful waterfalls, so whichever one you choose, you won’t miss out.

We chose the shortest tour 3-4 hours and found that we saw plenty of beautiful sights in that time. The lower lakes are easy and mostly flat walking. The upper lakes can be a bit trickier to navigate and there are some muddy and rocky parts along the path. There are maps available with suggested times when you buy your tickets.

Plitvice Lakes, which Entrance?

There are two entrances, one for the lower lakes (ST1) and one for the upper lakes (ST2), both with car parks. We found it easier to start at the upper lakes and walk down, then pick up the coach again at the lower lakes entrance.

We paid 150 kunas each, which included the boats that take you across the lakes and the shuttle buses that transport you to the upper and lower lakes. Just don’t lose your entry ticket, as you will need to show it to get on the boats and buses.

Plitvice Lakes Best Times to Visit

May/June, or September, are the best months to visit, as the summer months can be pretty crowded, and you’ll be competing for prime photo shots with other visitors. Another advantage of visiting out of season is that it is not too hot to walk around, as there isn’t much shelter in some parts.

How to visit Plitvice Lakes

If you arrive at the same time as a big tour group, walk one of the very well-established routes in reverse. You’ll probably be walking uphill for most of the trek, but you’ll probably not see another person for a while.

Avoid most of the tourists by going early or late. Between 8-10, and 3-6 is ideal.

Try to go on a weekday as it is less crowded.

There are restaurants on-site, but they are located some distance apart, so I suggest you bring water and possibly some food. Also, keep in mind that toilet facilities are limited to the entrance, the boat port/cafe and near the end by the train.

As inviting as a swim on the lakes may seem on a hot day, I’m afraid it’s not allowed, as they like to keep the lakes as clean as possible.

Be aware that there are steps which can be slippery when wet so be careful and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Avoid buggies and use a baby carrier instead. I’m afraid it’s not buggy or wheelchair friendly. Additionally, if you have small children, you will need to keep a close eye on them, as some of the paths may be slippery and hazardous. More than two small children, and I could imagine it would be stressful to manage them.

Euros are accepted and there is an exchange centre behind the ticketing office. However, it is better to exchange at the bus station for a better rate.

Pets are permitted in the park, but must be on a leash.

Very Important Information

Since 2019 you must reserve your entry ticket to Plitvice Lakes at least 48 hours in advance. Although you can still purchase tickets at the entrances you are risking being refused entry. There is now a limit to 10,000 visitors per day.

How to reserve you Plitvice Lakes Entry Tickets

Visit Plitvice Lakes website’s e-ticket system
Choose your date of arrival and exact time (must be minimum 48 hours before your visit)
Select your entry point to the park, and the number of tickets
Click the “add to cart” button and continue to checkout
Your receipt will be issued after a successful payment, and a voucher will be sent to your email address.
You must print your purchased voucher and present it at the park entrance to redeem it for a ticket.

Tickets can be purchased only in advance, at least 2 days prior to your arrival.

tel: +385 (0)53 751 928, e-mail: support@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

Regulating Visits

Plitvice was receiving over 16,000 visits during the height of the tourist season, and this was simply too many people to maintain the pristine ecosystem. Poor weather in nearby coastal destinations during some days made Plitvice exceptionally crowded. The average time tourists spend in the Lakes is 3.5 hours, and reserving tickets at least 2 days in advance ensures that the number of visitors can be equally distributed throughout the day and week.

Plitvice Lakes: Getting there

Unless you stay at one of the hotels close by or the camping ground, there isn’t much more around. You could hire a car to get here, as car hire is really cheap, and there is plenty of parking at the park if you arrive early in the morning. Parking is not expensive.

As mentioned earlier, in 2013 we stayed in the area, but this year we were settled and so comfortable at the Zaton Holiday Resort that we instead hired a car and drove up.

Plitvice Lakes Accommodation

Miric Inn, Jezera – about 10 minutes away. Lovely hotel, well-located, with great staff, good food, and parking on site.

Pansion House Prijeboj
4.1 miles from Plitvice Lakes
Good Parking, Breakfast included. Evening meal available. Good food, Friendly staff, New and clean building,

Villa Knezevic
1 mile from Plitvice Lakes
Quaint alpine resort vibe. Located close to the park entrance. Clean and friendly staff. If you arrive by bus from Zagreb, it’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from the bus stop. Restaurant nearby. Free Parking. Free wifi.

Hotel Degenija
4.4 miles from Plitvice Lakes
Pool, 2 restaurants, Clean, comfortable beds, Free wifi, free parking, Friendly staff.

Plitvica Lodge
1.1 miles from Plitvice Lakes
Clean comfortable rooms. Rustic wooden cabins, 10-minute walk to the park entrance. Laidback feel. Free wifi, Free parking.

More hotels here…

Car journey distances to other parts of Croatia

Plitvice Lakes to Split – 2 hr 32 min (241.9 km) via E71

Plitvice Lakes to Zadar – 1 hr 31 min (118.5 km) via D1 & E71

Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb – 1 hr 56 min (130.1 km) via D1 & E65/E71

Plitvice Lakes to Rovinj – 3 hr 5 min (240.3 km) via E65 & E751

Plitvice Lakes to Venice – 4 hr 46 min (380.6 km) via E70

If you do happen to get turned away from Plitvice without a reserved ticket, you may want to visit some of the following sites that are in the area: National Parks Paklenica or Sjeverni Velebit, Velebit nature park (Zavratnica cove and Cerovačke caves), cave park Grabovača, or Baraćeve caves.